The Golden State Warriors performed the biggest choke job in the history of sports, at least, in my lifetime. They set an NBA record with 73 wins during the regular season but then coughed up a 3-1 series lead in the league final against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA has never had a team come back from that kind of a deficit to win, yet the Cavs did it against, statistically, the best regular season team in the history of the league. Hopefully, the Warriors learn from this and come back with a vengeance next year. They appeared cocky and unfazed during their unravelling. Maybe, finally, they get it. Too late for this year, but here’s to hoping they win 74 next year and storm to a championship. It would be something to see a team on a mission like that.
Yes, Golden State’s choke is bigger than the New England Patriots going 16-0 and losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. The Patriots lost that game on a fluke pass that could never ever be repeated if you tried it a hundred times. Golden State had 3 full games to close out the Cavs and they failed all three times for 60 full minutes in each game. So, yes, the Warriors own the biggest collapse ever seen by a sports fan.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders entered training camp with two quarterbacks with CFL experience. They are down to one after releasing Brett Smith over the weekend. Darian Durant is a star, but he hasn’t played a full season since 2013. I won’t begin to suggest I’m smarter than Chris Jones, but if I was running a CFL team, I’d want a back up with experience. I think Smith can play. How well, I’m not sure. But, there are worse quarterbacks in the league with jobs than Smith. I’d give him a shot.
It sounds like Ron MacLean will be back as host of Hockey Night In Canada this Fall. Which is to say the NHL has relented and allowed Rogers to stop the bleeding of money due to poor ratings. The reinstallation of MacLean should be a much needed boost for Sportsnet. I just wonder what kind of muzzle will be on him. We know Rogers and the NHL like to use their shows as PR engines and not for unbiased sports coverage, which is what MacLean is known for and what got him exiled.
There was a social media stir on Twitter over the weekend when a picture appeared from an oil industry golf tournament in Alberta where a picture of Premier Rachel Notley was used as a target for golfers teeing off. Some used this as an opportunity to suggest those who work in the oil industry promote violence against women, including media outlet CTV Calgary. I joined the discussion and issued a link to one, of many, websites that offer Stephen Harper dart boards for sale. I wondered what the excuse would be for this to be acceptable and it wasn’t long before I had one. Apparently, men are not targeted for violence the way women are and, therefore, it’s okay to play an immature joke on Harper; but Notley is off limits. CTV Calgary got very quiet on the matter after my inquiry, by the way. I asked if anyone felt that if Notley was a man but had the same political stance as her would this target a) still be part of the golf tournmant and b) would it be more okay to use it as a target if Notley was a man. The answers, despite what was pointed out to me on Harper was no and no. My opinion is that while this litle ‘game’ is in poor taste and immature, Notley being a woman has nothing to do with it. To the contrary, she got the same equal treatment as a man (which is what women want isn’t it?) would get. If Notley was a man, I’m suggesting those in the oil sector would harbour the same resentment and the target would have been used. But, this is what happens when you engage left leaning people. Their moral compass changes to suit their personal agendas.
CBC reported that Justin Trudeau went to McDonald’s on Father’s Day. Awesome.
He could also go on Friday and Saturday if Liberal MPs have their way and get 4-day work weeks. And, why not? The rest of us in the private sector barely lift a finger working 5-6-7 days a week. We have it so easy. Let’s have some compassion for these politicians who work their tail off. For example, if you think it’s a cakewalk to celebrate an early anniversary in Japan, you go be an MP then. The Toronto area rep behind this is either an idiot or a liar when he says he had no idea that the job takes a toll on his time. Well no kidding. That’s why many of us don’t run for office. We’d like the tax free salary, the frequent air miles, lofty expenses, and various other perks; but we value our time. Now we have some Liberals who want the perks and the time. And, they’ll get it because Canadians are suckers. Well, 60 percent of us (most of them in Ontario) are anyway.
